Wednesday's letters: Able NHL officiating a fairy tale

Edmonton Journal

Published on: May 10, 2017 | Last Updated: May 10, 2017 6:00 AM MDT

Fans mock the refs during the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers game during the first period in game six of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Edmonton on Sunday, May 7, 2017.JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Like all fairy tales, once upon a time, we believed NHL referees and linesmen were the best in the world.

They could be proud of what they did and how they did it. That is clearly no longer the case. That is not to say a few of them aren’t still among the best, but the fraternity has become so incompetent that the good ones must surely now be ashamed to admit that they are part of it.

My hope is that instead of orange for the next Oilers home game some fans wear stripes and a paper bag over their head which is really what NHL officials should be wearing, or balaclavas so their incompetence or corrupt practice can go unidentified.

Having the Oilers continue in the playoffs is not good for TV ratings in Gary Bettman’s NHL. The Oilers are not just fighting the other team but they are up against the big money machine that is the NHL.

James Smyth, Edmonton

NHL justice is blind

The referees are ruining the game of hockey.

In Friday night’s game with only seconds left and the Oilers leading, the Ducks scored into Oiler’s net. It was perfectly obvious an Anaheim player was holding onto Oiler goalie Cam Talbot’s leg, preventing him from moving. This is goalie interference.

TV viewers could see it clearly, yet the referees on a video review labelled it a goal for Anaheim. How on earth could they not see the Duck player holding his leg so he couldn’t move. Some referees are blind as bats, I guess.

Laurene Park, Edmonton

Suspect calls rouse suspicion

It’s evident from the non-interference calls as well as other official decisions that the word has come down from NHL management — no written instruction but a quiet word sent down through back channels.

They’ve already got a few sleepless nights, but their absolute nightmare would be an Oilers-Senators Stanley Cup; Both are small-media market teams and both are Canadian.

So, keep the games close and entertaining, (six games good, seven is chancy) but be sure the “right” team wins the series so the larger television-audience cities are involved later.

Les Thompson, Edmonton

Add a second coach’s challenge

The Anaheim Ducks are a very good hockey team and are extremely adept at subtle infractions often ignored because it’s “playoff hockey.”

However, they are charmed when it comes to favourable rulings which seem to defy what we see on a replay. In Game 4, Corey Perry, a serial offender, contacted Talbot’s goalie pad which appeared to be goalie interference. Coach Todd McLellan’s challenge was not rewarded. When Perry was definitely offside on their next goal, we were unable to challenge.

The winning goal should have been negated due to icing. In Game 5, the tying goal, under further review, clearly showed Ryan Kesler interfering with Talbot. Call me biased if you like but there appears to be a pattern here. The coach’s challenge rule should be changed to avoid further fiascos — a second challenge with an accompanying two-minute penalty as a possible solution. Also, if we can criticize players and teams in the media, why can’t we have report cards for officials?

John Walters, Edmonton

Easy fix for Rogers Place washroom lineups

The lack of washrooms at Rogers Place can easily be solved. Simply stop all beer sales until more bathroom facilities are installed.

I am sure it would then be expeditiously fixed when they lose the huge profits that are made from liquor sales.

Steve Shamchuk, Sr., Edmonton

Water woes

Epcor and Edmonton city council first took the water softener out of our extremely hard Edmonton water with no reduction to our water fees.

Now, as of April 1, they will charge us full wastewater fees for the water that we use to water trees, plants, and lawns, even though this water does not enter the wastewater system.

Our city council, who are supposed to look after us citizens, again have either been bamboozled by Epcor, or are just totally inept.

Don Paterson, Edmonton

Letters welcome

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